Summer at Kentucky State Parks

UPDATED May 16, June 9, June 30, July 16, July 26, August 4, August 13, August 20, Sept. 2

Summer's here in Kentucky, and the parks are easy, fun and fantastic.

• Music in the Hills "Carter Caves State Resort Park will host the annual Fraley Festival of Traditional Music for the 42nd year, Sept. 5-8."

• Living History "In observance of the 150th anniversary of the Civil War, Waveland State Historic Site will host an 1860s living history event Sept. 7-8."

• Orienteering Day "Rough River Dam State Resort Park will host one of Kentucky’s National Orienteering Day events on Saturday, Sept. 15."

• Watercolor Workshop "John James Audubon State Park will host artist Birgit O’Connor for a four-day workshop on watercolors called “Big Bold Beautiful Flowers.” The workshop will be Sept. 24-27 at the park museum."

• Jesse Stuart events "Greenbo Lake State Resort Park will honor Kentucky writer Jesse Stuart during special weekend events Sept. 28-29."

• National Public Lands Day "Kentucky State Parks will be participating in National Public Lands Day on Sept. 29, 2012, a day set aside to recognize the importance of parks and encourage volunteer work."

• PhotoSceneKy Weekend "Cumberland Falls State Resort Park will host this year’s PhotoScenicKY Weekend Oct. 12-13, an opportunity to learn more about photography surrounded by the natural beauty of the eastern Kentucky mountains."

• Geocaching Weekend "Set that GPS system to Barren River Lake State Resort Park and join the park for this family-friendly event of geocaching during the weekend of Oct. 27-28."

• Nature Preserves Exhibit "As a celebration of its 35th anniversary, the Kentucky State Nature Preserves Commission has put together a photo exhibit that is touring the state, including three Kentucky State Park locations."

• Elk Tours "Jenny Wiley and Buckhorn Lake State Parks in eastern Kentucky will offer guests a unique wildlife viewing opportunity this fall and winter – elk viewing tours.

• Mystery and a Meal "Back by popular demand, Lake Barkley State Resort Park’s Dinner Theater series presents another murder mystery where you, the audience, try to figure out this whodunit. Take a trip back to the Old West with the murder mystery “A Black Day at Bad Rock” on Sept. 15."

• Survival Skills "Big Bone Lick State Park will host its “Lick the Wild: Survival Skills Weekend” Sept. 7-9."

• Buffalo and Wild Game Buffet "Rough River Dam State Resort Park will host its Buffalo and Wild Game Buffet along with a Chautauqua program about frontiersman Simon Kenton on Sept. 8."

• Battle of Perryville "Perryville Battlefield State Historic Site is commemorating the 150th anniversary of the largest Civil War confrontation in Kentucky on Oct. 6-7, with three battle re-enactments. The weekend will also include living history demonstrations, artillery demonstrations, military camps, expert speakers and paranormal tours."

• Music and Art Festival "The Jubilo Music & Arts Festival is coming to Fort Boonesborough State Park, Sept. 13-16."

• Race Series "The new Western Kentucky State Park Race Series will start Aug. 25 with the Hot August 5K at Kenlake State Resort Park in Aurora. The Hot August 5K is the first of five state park footraces and family fun walks scheduled in western Kentucky for 2012. Runners of all ages can take part in all five races to capture the overall championship based on a point system. Walkers are also welcome to participate in the events."

• In the steps of Daniel Boone "Tours that retrace explorer Daniel Boone’s journey to Kentucky are being offered this summer by the Fort Boonesborough Foundation, a nonprofit organization that supports Fort Boonesborough State Park. The tours offer guests a glimpse of the back roads as you retrace the route to Fort Boonesborough. A one-day tour, offered Aug. 21, will start at Fort Boonesborough State Park at 9 a.m. and will travel to Levi Jackson State Park in London. The tour includes lunch and will return to Fort Boonesborough later in the afternoon. It will also include a presentation by Scott New, who portrays Boone at the fort. The cost is $50 for adults and $40 for children 12 and under, and includes fort admission, box lunch, snacks and water, and New’s expert knowledge. Two-day tours will be offered July 10-11 and Sept. 26-27. These tours will also start at Fort Boonesborough and will take guests to Wilderness Road State Park in Virginia and Cumberland Gap National Historical Park along the Kentucky-Tennessee-Virginia border. Guests will spend the night at Pine Mountain State Resort Park in Pineville. The second day will feature Levi Jackson State Park in London and will end at Fort Boonesborough."

• Summer Author Series "The Waveland Summer Author Series will begin May 17 at Waveland State Historic Site in Lexington. This free series, sponsored by Waveland, the University Press of Kentucky, Friends of Waveland and The Morris Book Shop, will feature University Press of Kentucky authors speaking about their works in the context of Kentucky’s rich history. For its inaugural event May 17, the series will feature author James C. Nicholson and his book “The Kentucky Derby: How the Run for the Roses Became America’s Premier Sporting Event.” Nicholson provides an intriguing and thorough history of the Kentucky Derby, examining the tradition, spectacle, culture, and evolution of the Kentucky Derby – the brightest jewel of the Triple Crown. This event will give visitors a chance to interact with the author and hear firsthand how the most exciting two minutes in sports earned its title."

• Equine Camping "Greenbo Lake State Resort Park officially opened its equine campground today, thanks to assistance from Greenup County. The nine primitive sites for campers with horses were built with help from Greenup County Fiscal Court and Judge-Executive Bobby Carpenter. The county provided the equipment and crew to prepare the sites."

• Buffet Specials "Need a night off from the kitchen? Then make your way out to Lake Barkley State Resort Park’s Windows on the Water Restaurant for one of the park’s special buffets starting in May. The first Friday of the month will feature a seafood buffet with crab legs, frog legs, shrimp, and fried oysters – all for $22.95 for adults and $7.99 for children. The third Saturday of the month will feature a whole hog roast, barbecue chicken and assorted sides for $18.95 for adults and $6.99 for children."